On November 14, all 10 IPL franchises announced the players they decided to retain and those they decided to release ahead of the mini-auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi in December. Some teams showed complete confidence in their star players and decided to retain them despite their mixed performances. With the auction coming up soon, here are the top three highest-earning retained players for IPL 2026.
1. Rishabh Pant (LSG)
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Rishabh Pant remains the most expensive player in IPL history. Notably, he was bought by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for ₹27 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, LSG decided to retain Pant as both their captain and a key player. Pant did not have a good 2025 season. In 13 innings, he scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17. However, the franchise showed faith in him, believing that his form and leadership would improve. LSG retained him.
2. Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings)
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Punjab Kings signed Shreyas Iyer for the 2025 season. He became the second most expensive player with a price tag of ₹26.75 crore. Before the 2026 auction, Punjab had retained him for the same amount. Iyer proved his mettle last season, especially as captain, leading Punjab Kings to the final, where they faced Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He scored 604 runs in 17 innings at an impressive average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07, the best of his IPL career. Due to his strong leadership and consistent run-scoring, the franchise retained him till 2026.
3. Heinrich Klaasen (SRH)
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South African wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen has been retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for ₹23 crore, making him the third-highest-paid player retained this season. Notably, Klaasen scored 487 runs in 14 matches during the IPL 2025 season, proving his value as a reliable finisher and power-hitter. Klaasen has been one of SRH's most reliable batsmen. So far, he has played 39 innings for SRH, scoring 1,414 runs, including two centuries and seven fifties, an impressive record for a middle-order player.
Also Read: Who is the highest run-scorer in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC)?
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